Wheel-assembler.



0. C. KETRING.

WHEEL ASSEMBLEE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1912.

Inventor Witnesses l Atturneys Indiana,

bed plate note corresponding '3 is a sectional view of num eral 5 forming slideways or guides.

ORLANDO C. KETRING, OF PORTLAND, INDIANA.

WHEEL-ASSEMBLEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.9,1.9213.

Application filed September 4, 1912. Serial No. 718,596.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ORLANDO C. Kn'riuno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of J ay and State of have invented a new and useful Wheel-Assembler, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a mechanism for assembling automobile and other 10 vehicle wheels.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine for conveniently and efficiently assembling the parts of an automobile wheel or the like by compressing the 15 various parts together.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a machine of the character indicated embodying a bed plate on which the parts of the wheel may be assembled, the

having a circular series of independently and simultaneously actuating mechanisms thereon including radially movable wheel engaging slices, so that the shoes may be moved inward simultaneously for 25 compressing the parts of the wheel into position.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in. view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combi- 30 nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made 35 within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters have been employed to departs, and wherein- Figure 1 1s a central vertical section of the machine, parts being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, parts being broken away and parts being removed. Fig. an operating valve employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. et is a sectional view taken on the line 1E-1- of Fig. 3.

teferring specifically to the drawings, the designates a circular face or bed plate having a central opening 6 to accommodate the hub of a wheel placed `flatly on the plate and having a circular series of radial slots 7 therethrough, the said slots The bed plate 5 is mounted on the upper end of a hollow pedestal 8, the upper end of the pedestal `fitting around the opening (i and being provided with a peripheral rabbet 9 under the bed plate. A plurality of legs 10 are also provided for the bed plate, the same extending around the periphery of the bed plate at suitable intervals. A centering rod 11 is arranged axially within the pedestal S below the opening 6 and works through cross pieces or guides 12 in the pedestal, said rod having a collar 13 designed to rest on the upper cross piece 12 in order to support the rod in its lowered position so that its upper end is dropped below the surface of the bed plate 5. This rod 11 is reeiprocated or elevated by means of a shaft 14; jonrnaled through the pedestal 8 and having an arm 15 projecting therefrom connected to the rod 11 by a link 1G. Thus, when the shaft 1li is rocked, the arm 15 is oscillated so as to rcciprocate the rod 11 and when the rod 11 is raised, the upper end thereof will project through the opening 6 and above the face of the bed plate 5 so that the hub of the wheel to be assembled may be centered on the bed plate as will be apparent. This rod 11 may be normally retracted below the face of the bed plate by swinging the arm 15 downward.

A slide 17 is guided for reciprocatory movement in each of the slots 7 flush with the u per face of the bed plate, the edges of the sides and slots having interengaging tongues and grooves. Each of the slides 17 is provided with a depending wrist pin 18 and a ring 1 9 is journaled for rotation upon the pedestal 8 within the rabbet 9, the said ring bearing against the bottoni of the bed plate and having a peripheral series of depending wrist pins` 20, the corresponding wrist pins of the ring and slides being connected by pitinen :21. These pitinen 21 are arranged diagonally in order that the slides are constrained to reciprocate simultaneously and are connected to the lower faces of the slides. An upstanding wheel engaging shoe 22 is detachably secured to and carried by the upper face of each slide 17, and a cylinder 23 is mounted on the bed plate at thc outside of each shoe 22. A piston 241 is provided in each cylinder Q3 and has the piston rod 25 passing through the inner end of the corresponding cylinder and detachably secured to the corresponding shoe 22. Inasmuch as the slides 1.7 reciprocate simultaneously, the pistons 211 will also reciprocate siniultaneonsly, the pistons being een .provided kas il Each cylinder 23 is provided with a portA 26 at its inner end and with a port 27 at its outer end, to which ports are connected the respective branch pipes 28 and 29, the inner.

pipes Q8 passingthrough the slots 7 adjacent their outer ends and the outer 'pipes29 depending around the periphery of the bed plate. A concentric pair of circular pipes Q Y i 30 and 31 are ymoimted or nung below the periphery of the bled plate, said pipes being arranged on the inner and outer yfaces ofthe vlegs 10,'respectively, as is preferable, andthe respective branch pipes 28 and` 29 are connected to the pipes 30 and 31. l

By supplying steam, compressed air, or other fluid to one ofthe pipes 30 'or 31, it will appear that the pistons of the various cylinders vwill be simultaneously moved in one direction, and that by admitting Vthe fluid to the other pipe, the pistons will be forced in the other direction. As -a means for accomplishing this result, a `device has lustrated in Fig. 3. This device embodies a body 32 hai/'ing fa steam chest 33 secured thereto, the usual slide'valve 'working in the'steain'cliest 33 to alternately admit steam or Vother fluid into the central chamber 86 i'n the body 32 'and the versely connect the pipes 30 `and V'respective ports,

annular chamber 35 inthe body Vand to rethe'said kchambers with the exhaust port, as is well 'known inthe art. rlhe body 32 is provided with a port 38-leading to the chamber 36 and with al second port 37 'leading to the chamber 35, so that '3l 'may beconn'ected 'to the the' 4chest 3'3 Al'ieiiig coniiecte'd to a Vsuitable source of steam, compressed air or Vother fluid by'means of a pipe 3.9. Thus, when-the'slide valve 34 is i'noved'inone direction, the Huid will be admitted into 'one ofthe pipes 30' or 31 so that the pistons will be forced in one direction, the other pipe being connected. to the exhaust port, and when the slide valve is reversed, the reverse 'operation will ensue.

In practice, the wheel 'to be 'assembled is placed on thebed plate within the shoes' 22, the centering of the wheel being facilitated bythe 'rod 11 may be engaged. Then the wheel has-thus been assembled, steamer othe'r'iiuidis ad- "initted into the pipe 3l so that steam is sup` plied "sin'i'ultaneously to the outer ends of 'all of the 'cylinders L3 which causes the shoes to be vforced radially inward so as to compress the parts of the wheel together. The shoes 22 being made to move simultaneously will cause thepart's of the wheel to be comand are also disposed radially known on which thehub ofthe wheel pressed together evenly and with precision, and it will bejnoted that the cylinders 23 in being arranged outside of the slices 22 will cause the slices to be forced inwardly with great pressure. Then the wheel has then assembled, the shoes 22 may be moved outwardly, by reversing the steam supply, that is, by permitting the steam to enter the pipe 30 and by connecting the pipe 31,with the exhaust port. y

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, the advantages and capabilities of the present invention will be apparent and it will be observed that the objects aimed athave been carried out ina satisfactory manner, the present device vproviding a Adesirable one for the purposes for vwhich it is designed. i

lf desired, a second ring 19 may be Journaled for-rotation upon' the pedestal `8 Vand may be connected by pitinento the slides 17 so as to'rotate'in a direction opposite tothe rotation ofthe aforesaid ring. The employment of two rings 19 `will'o-byiat'e.anyside draft on the slides whichcarily the wheel engaging shoes.

Having thus described the iiiventio'ii,"what is claimed as new is 1. A wheel yassembler embodying Ia 4b'ed plate having a central opening and a series of radial-slots therethrough, a hollow pedestal supporting the' bed plate, slides working in the slots, iipstanding wheel enga-'ging shoes carried bythe slidesya ring mounted to rotate on the pedestal below the bedplate, pit'nien connecting the ring 'and'lower faces 'of the slides, and simultaneouslyl 'operable'independent mechanisms mounted on the bed plate around the shoesa'nd connected'th'ereto for'operating them.

2. A wheel assembler lembodying a bed plate having a central'opening and Aa series of radial slots theretl'iiough, slides 'wor'ling in the slots flushwith the upper face' ofthe bed plate, the edges vof the slides'and slots 'having interengaging tongues and grooves,

upstanding wheel engaging shoes detacha'bl'y secured to the upper faces of the slides, a member rotatable belowthe bed plate, pit- Vnien connecting the rotatable member vand the lower faces ofY the slides, a series of fluid pressure"cylinders mounted on the bed plate yaround the shoes, and pitin'en workingv in the 'cylinders and haying piston 'rods projecting inwardly and detach'ably Aconnected to the respective` shoes. l

ln tcstimonythiat I claim the'foreg-oing as my own, 'have hereto affixed niy signature in the presence of two witnesses.`

y QRLANDO C. KETRING. Witnesses P. M. HEARN, p WALTER F. MAoGiNNirin yI'Goipies-of this patentf'ma'y be 'obtained for five cents each, byaddres's'ing' the`CoiiimissionereffPatente, Washington, D. G. 

